A state watchdog report has revealed that a police training conference in Atlantic City, attended by 1,000 officers, including hundreds from New Jersey, promoted offensive and likely illegal tactics. Instructors at the Street Cop forum made over 100 offensive comments, glorified violence, encouraged insubordination, and advocated unconstitutional policing tactics. The report called for an investigation by the state attorney general and urged legislators to set standards for post-academy police training. The watchdog also recommended retraining officers who attended the conference and refraining from using taxpayer money for unvetted conferences. The findings highlight the need for oversight and regulation in the field of private police training.
Videos from a police training seminar in Atlantic City, New Jersey, have revealed instructors using sexist language, mocking the LGBTQ+ community, and glorifying violence. The seminar was led by Street Cop Training, a private police training company that claims to be the largest in the United States. The New Jersey comptroller's investigation found that many instructors made discriminatory and harassing comments, while offering unconstitutional tactics and promoting a "warrior" approach to policing. The comptroller's office recommended retraining for all New Jersey officers who participated in the seminar and called for licensing rules for private training companies. The report highlights the lack of oversight and regulation in the private police training industry, which has thrived in the United States.
A man in Ohio who was attacked by a police dog while trying to surrender during a traffic stop said he feared for his life and didn't initially stop his vehicle. Body camera footage showed a trooper yelling not to release the dog while the man had his hands up. The officer who released the dog has been fired, and a grievance has been filed. The incident has raised concerns about police training and civil rights abuses. The man, who is Black, called 911 out of fear that police would kill him. Ohio's governor emphasized the need for improved police training. The man was charged with failure to comply with an officer's order and released on bond.
Despite protests and objections from activists, the Atlanta City Council has approved $31 million in funding for the $90 million Cop City project, which will serve as a state-of-the-art training center for local police and first responders. The facility will include areas for officers to work on driving techniques and firearms training, while including mock stores, homes, and nightclubs meant to simulate environments police may find themselves in on the job. While some have voiced concerns about the taxpayer cost of the facility and its potential impact on green spaces around Atlanta, supporters argue that the enhanced training stands to benefit everyone in the community.
A K9 officer named Chase died from heat-related injuries after being found unresponsive in the back of a patrol car during a police training exercise at Allatoona High School in Cobb County, Georgia. The air conditioning system in the patrol car malfunctioned, and other safety systems did not activate, causing the temperature to rise quickly. The Cobb County Police Department is launching an investigation into the incident to determine what led to K9 Chase's death.
The Atlanta City Council has approved $31 million in funding for the construction of a $90 million police and fire training complex, despite nearly two years of protests. The project, known as "Cop City," has been criticized for its cost, potential militarization of the police force, and environmental impact. The vote was a test of whether opposition to the project had led to any wavering by the city's leaders. The plans call for transforming an old prison farm into a modern facility suited to the needs of a police force working in a large and complicated city.
Nashville police officers who ended the mass shooting at a private Christian school in Tennessee that left six people dead cited their police training on how they responded to the scene. Detective Sgt. Jeff Mathes, Detective Michael Collazo and officer Rex Engelbert started a press conference Tuesday by offering condolences to the families. They all described how it was luck that they were all in the area last week to respond to the call for an active shooter.
